"Thank you, Lord Clan Head!"
Following the method taught by Manager Sakumo, Sarutobi Hasumi wiped the tomato shiny with his sleeve, then opened his mouth and carefully took a small bite.
In the next second, his eyes widened instantly.
Sweet and delicious juice exploded in his mouth.
"Delicious!"
Countless little stars instantly appeared in Hasumi's eyes. He devoured the fist-sized tomato in a few bites.
Looking at his appearance, Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Let's go."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and patted Hasumi, who was still savoring the taste.
"Oh... okay!"
Side by side, the two left the Sarutobi clan compound and headed towards the Uchiha clan compound.
Soon, they stepped onto the wide and flat Hokage Avenue, personally supervised by Danzo.
The street was even livelier than in the morning.
All kinds of shops lined the street, and the sounds of hawking and laughter were endless.
Villagers and ninja in various clothes shuttled through the street, and everyone's face was beaming with a peaceful and happy smile.
Hasumi looked at the prosperous scene before him, and a sense of pride welled up in his heart.
This was... the village they protected.
So good.
Just as he was filled with emotions.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, walking in front, suddenly stopped.
Hasumi followed his gaze and saw an old man with gray hair pushing a small cart in an inconspicuous corner of the roadside, selling something.
They were long bamboo skewers, threaded with bright red fruits. The fruits were coated with a layer of crystal-clear sugar, glistening alluringly in the sunlight.
"What is that?"
Hasumi asked curiously.
"Candied haws."
Sarutobi Hiruzen answered with a smile, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.
"Haven't had one?"
"Hehe... no."
Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen strode towards the stall.
"Old man, how much for your candied haws?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen walked to the stall with a gentle smile on his face, just like an ordinary neighbor uncle preparing to buy snacks for the children at home.
The old man selling candied haws was dozing off with his eyes narrowed.
Hearing the voice, he slowly opened his eyes. When he saw the face of the visitor clearly, his cloudy eyes lit up instantly, and he hurriedly tried to stand up and bow with trembling hands.
"Lo... Lord Hokage! You... why are you here!"
"Please sit, please sit."
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly reached out and pressed him back, saying with a smile, "I was just wandering around and saw these nice candied haws, so I wanted to buy two to try."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"
The old man was flattered and waved his hands repeatedly. "It's my blessing that Lord Hokage wants to eat them. How can I take your money? Please take whatever you want, take whatever you want!"
Saying this, he was about to pull out two of the largest and reddest candied haws from the target to hand over.
"That won't do."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head with a smile, took out his wallet from his robes, counted out a few bills, and stuffed them into the old man's wrinkled hand without explanation.
"Business is business. It's not easy for you to come out and do business. Besides, this is the new trend in our Konoha now, even brothers settle accounts clearly."
He picked up two candied haws and handed one to Sarutobi Hasumi, who was already staring blankly beside him.
"Try it. I loved eating this when I was a kid."
"Ah... oh! Thank you, Lord Clan Head!"
Hasumi came back to his senses and hurriedly took it with both hands.
He glanced at the bright red, glistening candied haws in his hand, then at the Clan Head chatting away, feeling a bit unreal.
Is this... Lord Hokage?
No airs at all.
Just like... just like the nagging but extremely kind neighbor uncle at home.
"Old man, how's business recently?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked casually.
"Good! Good! Thanks to Lord Hokage, it's very good!"
At the mention of this, the wrinkles on the old man's face blossomed into a smile. "Now that the village is peaceful, everyone has spare money. My candied haws are sold out before the afternoon every day! Much better than before!"
"That's good."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.
People's livelihood is the most fundamental cornerstone of a village.
He chatted with the old man about family matters for a while, asking about his family's situation, before leaving with Hasumi.
Watching their retreating backs, the old man excitedly said to the people around him, "Did you see that! Did you see that! Lord Hokage! Lord Hokage bought my candied haws! And he paid!"
Passersby cast envious glances.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Sarutobi Hasumi, each holding a candied haw, strolled leisurely on the bustling Hokage Avenue, eating as they walked, like a most ordinary uncle and nephew.
Hasumi imitated the Clan Head, carefully taking a bite.
Crunch.
The crystal sugar coating on the outside shattered instantly in his mouth, sweet but not greasy.
Immediately after, it was the sweet and sour taste of the hawthorn fruit inside.
Sweet and sour, with distinct layers of flavor.
"Is it delicious?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his satisfied appearance and asked with a smile.
"Mm-hm!"
Hasumi nodded vigorously, his mouth full of candied haws, saying vaguely, "Delicious!"
"Haha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was also amused by him.
He took a bite himself, feeling the familiar sweet and sour taste belonging to childhood, his heart peaceful.
"Speaking of which, Hasumi, did you do anything embarrassing when you were in the Ninja Academy?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to suddenly remember something and asked casually.
"Ah?"
Hasumi was stunned, and his face turned red instantly.
"This... this..."
He stammered for a long time before saying somewhat embarrassedly, "Once... once, I fought with a kid from the Inuzuka family over a seat..."
"Oh? And then? Who won?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gossip soul was instantly ignited.
"...I made him cry."
Hasumi's voice became smaller and smaller. "Then... his ninja hound bit a hole in my pants... Finally, both of us were punished by the teacher to sweep the playground."
"Hahahahahaha!"
After listening, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter.
Hasumi's face turned even redder, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Too embarrassing, his embarrassing deed from back then was actually told in front of the Clan Head.
The two walked slowly on the street, talking and laughing.
Along the way, villagers and ninja constantly stopped when they saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, bowing and greeting him respectfully from the bottom of their hearts.
"Greetings, Lord Hokage!"
"Lord Hokage, you're out for a stroll!"
"Lord Hokage, would you like to come into our shop and sit for a while? Freshly roasted sweet potatoes!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and responded with a smile to each one, without the slightest impatience.
He would stop to chat with the roadside ramen shop owner about business today; he would bend down to pat the head of a little Uchiha girl, praising her beautifully tied bun hairstyle.
This amiable and approachable side left Sarutobi Hasumi, who was following behind, dumbfounded.
He felt that his understanding of the word "Hokage" had been refreshed once again.
So, the Hokage... is like this.
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